Tricycle



No. s|s,5s0. Patented l an. 3|, I899.

- s. R. PAINE.

TRI CYCLE. (Application filed. May 9. 1898.) (No 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V /4 W. ff.

aw y I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PAINE, OF BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,580, dated January31, 1899. Application filed May 9, 1898. $erial No. 680,110. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. PAINE, of Bridgewater, in the county ofPlymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tricycles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to vehicles adapted to be propelled by the jointaction of the hands and feet of the rider, and has for its object toprovide a simple vehicle of this class adapted to be easily andcomfortably propelled.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a top plan View of a tricycle embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

In the drawings, a represents the rear axle of my improved vehicle, thesame being journaled in suitable bearings a a on the frame c andprovided with wheels I) b, one of which is fastened to the axle, whilethe other runs loosely thereon. If desired, the wheels may be providedwith pneumatic tires.

The frame cis provided at its forward end with a head or bearing a forthe steering-fork d, the latter being provided with the steerin g-wheele. To-the fork d is affixed a sprocketwheel f, connected by a chain 9with a handle-bar h, which is mounted to turn in bearings in theoperating-levers i 2', hereinafter described. The ends of the chain 9are connected at g g Fig. 1, with the handle-bar. The chain passes fromthe point g on the handle-bar under an idle pulley j, mounted on thesupporting-frame, to the wheel f, and from thence back under anotheridle pulley j to the point 9 The portion of the chain extending from thepoint g is coiled upon the handle-bar in one direction, while theportion of the chain terminating at the point g is coiled upon thehandle-bar in the opposite direction, so that a rotation of thehandlebar in its bearings will wind up one end of the chain and unwindthe other, thus imparting movement to the chain and to the steering-forkrequired to steer the machine.

To the driving-axle a is affixed a gear-wheel k, with which meshes agear-wheel m, a'lfixed to the shaft or, journaled in bearings o 0 on theframe 0. To the ends of the shaft n are afiixed cranks n 'n, which areconnected by rods 1 q with the operating-levers 2' above mentioned.These levers are mounted to oscillate upon a horizontal rod 7', affixedto the supporting-frame. The handle-bar h is journaled in the upper endsof the leversi 2', and the lower ends of said levers project below therod or fulcrum r and are connected by a horizontal rod 1', which servesas a rest for the feet of the rider. The arms of the levers 11 t' are soproportioned relatively to the cranks n that when the levers i areoscillated on the fulcrum 'r the cranks n will be revolved and .willrotate the shaft 01. and gear m, the latter imparting a rotary motion tothe gear and driving-shaft a.

5 represents a seat which is arranged so that the rider sitting on theseat can conveniently grasp the handles h h and at the same time resthis feet on the cross-bar 2", connecting the lower ends of the leverst'.

The machine is operated by an oscillating movement of the riders body,power being imparted through both his hands and his feet to the lever t.The steering of the vehicle is eifected by partially rotating thehandle-bar in its bearings, as above set forth.

It will be seen that the described vehicle is simple in construction andthat the driving mechanism is arranged so that the muscle power of therider can be very advantageously exerted, so that the vehicle can bedriven with comparativelylittle fatigue on the part of the rider.

I do not limit myself to the details of con struction here shown, andmay variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I have shown in dotted lines a detachable luggage-carrier 25 attached tothe rear portion of the frame 0.

The two connected levers i i may be considered as one operating-lever.

I claim- 1. A vehicle of the character specified, comprising adriving-axle, a seat, two levers fulcrumed side by side on the frame ofthe vehicle, a handle-bar journaled in bearings in the upper ends ofsaid levers, a foot-supportin g cross-bar connecting the lower ends ofthe levers, driving connections between the levers and the driving-axle,a steering-forkhaving a steering-wheel, and connections between saidfork and the handle-bar whereby rotary movements of the handle-bar arecaused to 0p crate the steering-fork.

2. Avehicle of the character specified, comprising a driving-axle, aseat, two levers fulcruined side by side on the frame of the vehicle, ahandle-bar journaled in hearings in the upper ends of said levers, afoot-supportin g cross-bar connecting the lower ends of the levers,driving connections between the levers and the driving-axle, asteering-fork having a steering-wheel, a sprocket-wheel affixed to thefork,a chain engaged with said sprocket wheel, and having its endsengaged with and reversely wound on the handle-bar, and idlepulleysarranged to guide the chain between the fork and handle-bar.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE R. PAINE. Vitnesses:

HENRY MULLEN, ALICE M. BOUTELLE.

